Elizabeth Weimer is laser focused on throwing the hammer, shot put and discus during her upcoming collegiate outdoor track and field season.
The Burrell graduate and redshirt junior at Ashland hopes to carry over momentum gained from an indoor season during which she captured her second straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II) shot put championship.
“It’s exciting to have the spring season so close because the weather has been so nice this week,” said Weimer, who kicks off the spring season with her team March 26 at the Raleigh (N.C.) Relays and March 27 at Winthrop.
“We’ve been outside practicing and getting ready. We’re all really excited to see what we can do.”
Weimer had that same optimism starting the indoor season Dec. 4 at the Tiffin Challenge.
She scored a runner-up finish in the shot. Her top attempt of 14.06 meters (46 feet, 1½ inches) was better than the provisional qualifying standard (13.79) for possible inclusion in the NCAA Division II national championships.
She hoped for better things as the calendar turned to 2021, but her indoor season was put on hold for a month starting in early January because of a case of covid.
Weimer came back after a month break and had about three weeks of training and two competitions before the GLIAC championships Feb. 28 at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan.
She had six throws in the shot put at the GLIAC meet, and her second throw turned out to be the winner. She popped a lifetime best of 14.32 (46-11¾).
“I was still in a competitive mindset after that (second) throw, but I also was extremely happy because it not only was a lifetime PR, but it was the first time I had been over 14 meters since I came back from covid,” Weimer said.
“I had not been anywhere near those marks in practice. Covid had a lasting effect on me, and I didn’t know if I was as ready as I hoped to be for that (conference) meet. But I was just overwhelmed that I was able to throw 14 meters. I felt really empowered, and it just felt like everything came together that day. I am strong in my faith, and to be there with another girl on my team and pray together, it helped me to be emotionally and physically ready.”
Weimer hoped her 14.32 would get her to the NCAA championships, but she fell short by 13 centimeters. They took the top 13 in the national rankings, and she finished tied for 14th.
“Coming out of the GLIAC meet, I definitely felt I had the capacity to throw a bigger throw,” Weimer said. “Any other year, they would take top 17, top 18 or top 20. It just so happens they were taking less girls this year because of covid and not being able to have as many there compared to past years.”
Weimer’s throw at the conference meet also brought all-regional recognition by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association for Division II.
Last year, she won the shot at GLIACs with a throw of 14.13 (46-4¼). The cut for nationals was at 17th in the national rankings (14.50).
Weimer’s focus turned to strength training for the spring season, but then she and the other members of the team were sent home when the covid pandemic started to take hold.
The national indoor meet was canceled, and the NCAA soon announced the cancellation of the entire spring collegiate season.
“I went home and was able to train at Burrell, and I did a lot of cross training between lifting weights at home and throwing and just basically being outside,” said Weimer, also a four-time recipient of the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team.
“I was able to get my body back in shape while doing some things I enjoyed to do outside of track. It helped me refuel for the fall training workouts.”
Weimer finished her Burrell throwing career as a six-time outdoor state medalist in the shot put and discus. She also was a two-time indoor shot put state medalist.
